Official: 5 Egypt police killed on Israeli border

August 19, 2011 5:32:25 AM PDT

By MAGGIE MICHAEL Associated Press

CAIRO - August 19, 2011 --

An Egyptian Interior Ministry official says five Egyptian security personnel were killed when Israeli soldiers were pursuing Gaza militants after a bloody attack along the border in the Sinai Peninsula.

He says three were killed Thursday and two soldiers died Friday from wounds, bringing death toll to five.

The official says it is not yet clear who shot the soldiers, but "most probably" they were caught in the crossfire when Israeli soldiers were chasing militants after they ambushed civilian vehicles traveling on a remote road, killing eight people.

The gunmen appear to have crossed into southern Israel through Egypt's Sinai desert.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.